walkhighlands

Glas Tulaichean and Carn an Righ

Route: Glas Tulaichean & Càrn an Rìgh, Glenshee

Munros: Càrn an Rìgh, Glas Tulaichean

Date walked: 01/06/2010

Time taken: 9 hours

Distance: 27km

Ascent: 1106m

Started off bright and early heading up to the Spittal of Glenshee from Glasgow to meet Bob and Robert who had already spent the day before up there. Left early enough to miss any early roadwork/commuter traffic problems at Cumbernauld – Thank Goodness. Just had that great feeling of a day off work, with the nice early morning sun starting to shine, some great music playing in the car, the sun shades on and a great big grin on my face with a wonderful thought of a day in the mountains.
Met up with Bob and Robert at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel and headed up the road to the baronial Dalmunzie Castle Hotel where you can park your car for a £2 fee at the hotel reception. They welcome walkers and are quite friendly and can give you any information you need for local hill walking. Once suited and booted we started the walk on the path. Quickly you come to the sign post which directs you to Glas Tulaichean on a farm track through a couple of gates. Didn’t know what to expect weather wise as Bob and Robert had said they got caught in a snow shower and had plenty of snow on the peaks the previous day. Forecast for today was to be good so had packed the rucksack to be prepared for all eventualities’ with what was going to be a full day out in the mountains, oh!!! and of course my own little delights of a some good food and delightful cappuccinos to be had on a well earned break. Hey, who said it all had to be stewed tea and soggy sandwiches hahaha.
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Looking up to Glenlochsie Lodge from the dismantled railway track with the wider path to the left

Soon you come to the first decision and choice of the day. Cross the stream to your left and follow the well laid out path, or if the stream is flowing high or you don’t fancy getting your nice walking boots or feet wet, you can go up to your right to a path which originally was a small railway line between the hotel and the lodge for visiting stalkers probably in Victorian times that gives you a decent walking track on a higher level.
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Bob walking on the higher dismantled railway path up the valley

Whichever you choose, both tracks meet up again at the site of the old Glenlochsie Lodge which is now disused and in ruins. We chose the higher path, just because we fancied following the old railway line and joined up with the other track, just after crossing the stream over a small wooden bridge at the old Lodge.
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Bob and Robert gathering water from the burn at the bridge as the paths join at Glenlochsie Lodge

Here Bob and Robert load up with water from the fresh flowing stream. Didn’t fancy it myself – prefer my highland spring water in a bottle, but if needs must i would never say no to fresh mountain water though - and its free. Now the track starts climbing, and going up gives you a good cardiovascular workout. Take it at your own pace but stop to look around and admire the views back down the valley, you can also see the Glenshee skiing chairlift and tow pylons at the Cairnwell in the near distance.
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Looking back down the valley with the two paths visible and Glenlochsie lodge in the foreground

As we continued to climb up the shoulder of Glas Tulaichean we soon began to see the nearby mountains of Beinn a Ghlo come into view. It brought back great memories of the other month when myself and Isaac had such a wonderful day on those mountains. How different they look today, stripped of their cloak of snow (see my Beinn a Ghlo report) but still in a wonderful setting looking over proudly at us. Now panting like well walked dogs and our hearts now pounding, we continue on our ascent.
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Posing for the camera as we head up the shoulder of Glas Tulaichean on the wide path

We stop for a quick refuelling refreshment and a mars bar to keep us going. The path stretches out into the distance and you can see it stretching all the way up almost to the top on the shoulder of Glas Tulaichean, in fact it must be one of the best tracks i’ve been on and you could easily drive a 4*4 almost to the top. The track was so good that the chat was whether we should phone down to the hotel and order lunch to be sent up by car, and should we have Roast Chicken or the salmon and would the wine still be chilled by the time it got to us, or would the Domino man deliver some hot Pizzas on his moped within 20 mins.
The wide track begins to narrow as we reached the top part of the mountain. We take the right fork just below the summit which takes you to the top trig point and here you get a fantastic vista of the Cairngorm Mountains. Ben Macdui stands proud and majestic with its peak covered in fresh snow and the mountains surrounding it look all mighty impressive too, like sentinels guarding a high castle fortress. We stop for a while having the obligatory photos and of course a nice wee cappuccino coffee and croissant with cured ham and peppered mustard to set us up for the next leg of our mountain walk. Okay – so Robert and Bob had regular tea and sandwiches i just go over the top as usual. But i did forget to pack the napkin and table cloth HaHaHa.
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Group photo of the 3 stooges at the top of Glas Tulaichean

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Bob with the Cairngorm Mountains in the distance

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Robert Wee Bear and Bob

From the top we can see our next destination, Carn an Righ. We have to take a bit of a dog leg to get to it, but the path is fairly clear marked. We set of again following the path down the other side of Glas Tulaichean then follow the route on our GPS downloaded from the walkhighlands web site.
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Carn nan Righ from top of Glas Tulaichean

The route veers to the left with a faint path over some grassy slopes and then follows the burn until it crosses and then meets the stream at the bottom. Cross the stream and join the path that leads to Carn an Righ. We occasionally stop to rehydrate with water and replenish energy with a chocolate bar or banana.
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Heading on the path to Carn an Righ

The day is warm and balmy and it’s so easy to get fatigued and dehydrated on our quest to get to the top following the long path in the warm sunshine. The slope ascending to the summit on Carn an Righ is not to steep but is relentless in its gradient, enough to get those leg muscles working – and you feel it.
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Robert leads the way round Mam nan Cairn

The last part of the slope is across stony ground and keeping to the left as you ascend the final stretch to the summit makes it easier. At the top of Carn an Righ with its really good shaped cairn to give you protection from the wind, it’s time for lunch. Hoorrrahh!!.
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Posing for the photo albumn on the Top Cairn on Carn an Righ (Rocky Hill of the King)

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Magnificent view over to the Cairngorms from the top of Carn an Righ

It also gives you time for the leg muscles to recover from the slope just climbed. The views are excellent over to Beinn a Ghlo and we take in the wonderful wild vista all around us while munching on our packed grub. After our mains we have our coffee and cake or tea and scones, before heading back down the slopes and on what we know to be a long walk out passing by Loch nan Eun then down through Gleann Taitneach.
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Time for Lunch and a wee rest at the top of Carn an Righ

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Wee Bear and the Cairgorm Mountains on the Carn an Righ cairn

Robert deliberates and chooses the slightly higher path around Mam nan Cairn as we head for Lon nan Eun. It was a good shout by Robert as the path was clear and avoided following the burn at the bottom which had no real discernable path.
Loch nan Eun comes into view as we pass round the bottom of the 858m hill mound. We all agree it is one of the most tranquil places in Scotland we have seen ,and in fact was a place of inspiration for Pipe Major Bert Barron who composed a slow air for the pipes called ‘Lonely Loch nan Eun’ which i believe he visited several times. This link takes you to a rendition of that piece i found on the internet.
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The tranquil Loch nan Eun.

We stopped for a while to soak in the tranquil atmosphere and peacefulness of this lovely loch. I believe it’s stocked with trout as i later found out from the hotel later on. Wondered why the seagulls were circling that far inland. The local wildlife was also out to investigate us and we found lots of wild rabbits standing very tamely still as we walked very close to them. Normally they bolt at the site of humans; maybe they haven’t learned to do that yet.
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Local wildlife stop and stare at the passing crowd. Rabbit posing for camera.

Leaving the loch and heading round the mound we see Gleann Taitneach come into splendid view.
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Gleann Taitneach

Passing by waterfalls a plenty we head down into the glen stopping occasionally to take in the really marvellous view of this long glen in front of us.
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Abundant waterfalls on our way down the glen.

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Robert heads down the splendid Gleann Taitneach

The walk out is long but delightful, but you do begin to feel the weariness in your legs of a long days walk by the end of it. As you near the hotel you leave the glen path and cross a bridge over the stream, here you come across a little plaque attached to what i would describe as a stone stupa where the remains of a couple have been buried. Don’t quite know the story behind this; maybe somebody could enlighten me, as i was quite curious about it. Head up the path to join the road back to the hotel and then a well deserved pint back at the bar. Another fine walk on a good day in the mountains was had by all. Be back soon.

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Comments: 6



Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath

Attachment(s) Munros: Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, Càrn Liath (Beinn a' Ghlò), Càrn nan Gabhar
Date walked: 09/03/2010
Distance: 22km
Comments: 6
Views: 7664


Beinn Ime - and why they are called the Arrochar Alps

Attachment(s) Munros: Beinn Ìme, Beinn Narnain
Date walked: 01/03/2010
Distance: 15km
Comments: 6
Views: 12097

Stevie Foster


User avatar
Pub: The Drovers Inverarnan
Mountain: Ben Cruachan
Place: Loch Melfort area Argyll
Gear: Arctyrx Fleece
Ideal day out: Great Ridge walks with stunning views on a day its not raining or even blinding snow blizzards with mi amigo Isaac -allthough these days are fun too. Especially stopping to have great lunch breaks at over 3,000 feet, laying back and admiring the view.

Munros: 39
Corbetts: 6



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Statistics

2010

Trips: 3
Distance: 64 km
Ascent: 1106m
Munros: 7


Joined: Mar 01, 2009
Last visited: Nov 23, 2017
Total posts: 6 | Search posts